A new guide designed to equip the global shrimp sector with the tools and confidence to cut carbon emissions will launch ahead of the fourth annual Global Shrimp Forum, which will take place in Utrecht from September 2-4, 2025. The Carbon Footprint of Farmed Shrimp: An Industry Guide will be formally presented at the event, which brings together leaders from across the shrimp supply chain alongside policymakers, researchers, and sustainability experts.
“This guide is designed to equip the shrimp industry with the information and confidence it needs to take meaningful action on carbon reduction,” said co-author of the report, Roxanne Nanninga. “Time is not on our side, and I hope that it will inspire companies to take bold, leading steps towards making shrimp the tasty, low-carbon protein of the future.”
In the guide, readers are introduced to the key concepts behind measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in shrimp farming. It explains the latest scientific understanding of how, and where, shrimp production contributes to these emissions, and pinpoints practical actions that can drive significant reductions across the value chain. The report also highlights how these steps can deliver commercial advantages, from cost savings to enhanced supply chain resilience.
The authors address long-standing misconceptions, such as the scale of land-use emissions from mangrove deforestation, while also flagging research areas that remain uncertain, like the potential scale of methane emissions from shrimp ponds. Co-author Anton Immink noted: “In addition to clarifying where emissions come from, we highlight where there are clear business benefits to investing in carbon reduction, and we point to practical resources for financing climate action. The message is clear: climate responsibility and commercial opportunity can go hand in hand.”
The guide stresses that achieving meaningful impact will require coordinated efforts across and beyond the supply chain, encouraging companies to forge innovative partnerships with governments, power companies, and other sectors. Esther Luiten, Board Member of the Global Shrimp Forum, added: “This report reflects the Global Shrimp Forum Foundation’s mission to channel our resources into research that supports the industry’s sustainable growth. By funding and sharing studies like this, we aim to give the shrimp sector the evidence it needs to tackle complex challenges such as climate change.”
The Carbon Footprint of Farmed Shrimp guide is funded by the Global Shrimp Forum Foundation, a non-profit organization that reinvests the financial surplus from the Global Shrimp into research across three streams: (1) mangrove conservation, (2) pre-competitive research and (3) aquaculture improvement projects.
By laying out clear facts, debunking myths, and highlighting opportunities, the report aims to help shrimp producers turn climate ambition into action.
Read the full report here.
